Ethiopia has reaffirmed its commitment to fully implementing the Ankara Agreement following discussions with a Somali delegation led by Ali Omar, Somalia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The Somali delegation arrived in Addis Ababa on December 23, 2024, to focus on strengthening bilateral relations and finding effective ways to implement the Ankara Agreement. This marks Somalia’s first official working visit to Ethiopia after the signing of the Ankara Declaration.
Signed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the Ankara Declaration emphasized respect for each other’s sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity. Both sides agreed to continue discussions to ensure sustainable peace, combat terrorism, and maintain regional stability.
The visit followed tensions earlier in 2024 after Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland, which led to disputes over territorial sovereignty. However, the Ankara Declaration aims to rebuild cooperation between Ethiopia and Somalia, supported by the African Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
In the same context, Ethiopia denied allegations from Somalia that its troops attacked Somali government positions in Doolow town on Monday. The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement seen by The Wall Africa Journal, described the incident as being “instigated by certain elements intent on derailing the normalization of relations between Ethiopia and Somalia.” Ethiopian officials emphasized that the attack was not conducted by their forces and reaffirmed their commitment to peace and cooperation. This denial comes as both countries continue efforts to implement the Ankara Agreement, aiming to solidify bilateral relations and ensure regional stability.
Turkish President Erdoğan has announced plans to visit Ethiopia and Somalia in early 2025.